Whether a small business started out of your house like the successful MamaBargains.com who tweet every time they have a new item for sale, a musician promoting their brand and connecting with fans through their Facebook page, or a huge company like Southwest Airlines promoting secret flight sales through their Twitter- there’s one thing successful businesses have in common- they’re utilizing New Media Outlets on the Internet.

With over 300 million users as of 2011 on Twitter according to Wikipedia, and more than 800 million active users on Facebook according to their statistics, obviously it makes sense to tap into this built in potential client base!

Whether it be Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or the many other social networking sites available on the web, New Media is here to stay. Using New Media, companies can create a community for their clients, where people can feel connected to a business personally and emotionally. Having an online presence also makes it easy for word of mouth to spread when people can give a direct link to your Social Network Page or your website to their friends through their own social networks.

Example of how people can instantly share your business with all their contacts on Facebook!

Unfortunately a lot of companies, haven’t taken advantage of New Media. Whether because of frustration with new technology, or just not seeing the need for it, all businesses, large or small should be taking advantage of all the parts of New Media like Social Networks (Twitter, Facebook, etc), uploading pictures and videos, blogs, and more.

There are a ton of blogs, magazines and books to help coach you on how to set up these sites for your business. The Social Media Bible by Lon Safko is a Bestseller for a very thorough, yet easy to read, help book for any kind of business owner. There’s also a great book for musicians titled Music Success in Nine Weeks by Arial Hyatt, which can help musicians learn the basics of Social Media and promoting their act online (even if the title is a bit unrealistic!).

However, one of the main things a business owner doesn’t always have is time. Since that is the case, there are a lot of consultants (including myself) who can guide you, or just take care of, setting you up online and even run your new media outlets on a consistent basis. From your business website to social networks, and even promotional business videos, New Media consultants can help a business owner build their clientele reach online- which results in more sales. If more people know who you are, then more people can come to you for your services when they need them- and then tell all their friends online when you’ve provided GOOD BUSINESS.

Video:

I made this video to promote my own Blog that I uploaded to my YouTube, to show how New Media is here to stay and makes promotion and connecting with your clients fun and essential.

Lava Print Media can design and wrap anything from Cars to windows, doors, and more!

In this economy of large and small businesses failing daily, I stumbled upon a local company in Orange County, CA, Lava Print Media. Lava Print Media is a multi-media company specializing in helping businesses catch their client’s eye online, and in person, through high quality graphic design, branding and printing. From banners, stickers, car wraps, windows, doors, and the ability to “wrap” almost every surface you can imagine, Lava Print Media is the solution many businesses are looking for to help them stand apart in today’s marketplace.

Lava Print Media's Shop in Huntington Beach, CA

I met up with the owner, Don Smith, to ask him exactly what Lava Print Media
does, and to take some pictures of their offices in Huntington Beach, CA. Don Smith was a gracious host, allowing me to explore his shop and explaining all the ways that Lava Print Media can help business owners locally to globally on the web and through printing (since they can install, or even mail banners for businesses to install themselves). I was blown away and excited to see all the opportunities that are out there to help other business owners. I was especially excited to learn that Lava Print Media is not only it’s own business, but Lava Print Media’s business is helping others succeed in their business. What a great thought!

After writing my blog “Changing Our Minds to Change Our Lives” a few months ago, I was very inspired by all the feedback I received. I decided to do a follow-up story with yet another perspective on Positive Thinking.

In my last blog, I shared my own approach to positive thinking, as well as quotes from different Life Coach’s and positive minded blogs. I thought it would be interesting to look at a very old, but historically accurate book- The Bible, to see what it had to say about our thoughts and positive thinking.

I also used this video to interview a minister of the Church of Christ who’s been preaching and a scholar of The Bible for over 30 years to see what he had to say about the Bible’s perspective on positive thinking.

One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been is in a tiny cove near Laguna Beach, CA. Lying just feet from the famous Pacific Coast Highway, Crystal Cove is a treasure concealed by the bluffs and time itself. Visiting Crystal Cove is like taking a step back in time to the earlier, simpler days, where time slowed down and remembering that relaxing and having fun is important.

According to the Crystal Cove Alliance website, “Crystal Cove is especially treasured by locals in part because of its improbable survival. While Orange County’s coastline has been under constant development since the late 1950s, Crystal Cove remains the area’s singular, unchanged place in the sun. The gentle waves at the Cove are the same, the cottages are standing, and access is open.

Thanks to the Crystal Cove Alliance, Crystal Cove has never changed and it never will.”

Not only can you visit the beautiful cove any day of the year, but if you are quick with a call or computer, you can book a Beach Cottage 6 months in advance online or by phone every 1st of the month.

Whether coming for an hour, a day, or a week, Crystal Cove is a place where you’ll make life-long memories starting the moment you get there.

Here is an intro to my new Podcast Series. Since I’ve been in the Music Business now for 13 years, I decided I’d like to share the knowledge I’ve gained with other aspiring independent singer/songwriters who may need some help in areas. I was lucky enough to have a very supportive family, and to attend and graduate from Berklee College of Music.

I will be sharing my Music Business education in the podcast, and also the experience and stories from my years booking myself for national tours, TV and Radio performances, and TV/Film placements. I hope to help some other talented and hard working musicians with honest and relevant information.

Besides this intro, I’ve posted my first episode “How to Make Your Own Press Kit” that you can listen to HERE.

In the last few months I’ve been performing a lot with some amazing new products I have by TC-Helicon. After checking out their VoiceLive Touch and using it on my last few tours, I posted some videos of me using their products, and entered a TC-Helicon contest.

Since my entries into their contest, I’ve been in communications with the company and now own and perform often with their Voice Tone H1 Harmony Pedal as well as their R1 Reverb Pedal. This video gives a short “How To” on using the H1 Harmony Pedal, which is simple yet very fun and effective. I’ve also included a performance of me using the H1 pedal, to give ideas as to where to place Harmonies, and how fun it truly is. At the end of the video you’ll see a close-up picture of the H1 Harmony pedal (pictured here as well).

For those of you interested in buying any TC-Helicon products, I give all their products that I’ve used 5 Star Reviews including: VoiceLive Touch, H1 Harmony Pedal, R1 Reverb Pedal and their MP-75 mic. With over 13 years performing experience, I’ve never had as much fun with live gear as I’ve had with their products. I truly mean that!

I hope you enjoy the video and feel free to write with any questions, and check out TC-Helicon.com for more info. You can also see more videos of me using their products on my YouTube page HERE.

Since my recent posts on Vegetarianism and Juicing, I’ve had some followers ask me about some of my personal favorite recipes that I like for smoothies, juicing, and vegetarian meals.

Loving Blueberry Smoothies! Photo Courtesy: dandysugar.com

Before I go into my favorite Smoothie and Juicing Recipes so far, I’d like to share some useful links that you can research your own favorite recipes to try and information to read:

1. Reboot Your Life- the site that the filmmaker, Joe Cross, from the movie, Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead made. This site has completely free information, recipes, and plans for doing your own juicing reboot (or if like me, a partial reboot where I’m taking some of the recipes and juicing as I can for now). If you haven’t seen the movie, please check it out (like NOW!) J It’s currently free to stream on Netflix.com if you’re a member. http://jointhereboot.com/

3. I also found a really fun site, VideoJug that has short “how to” videos including making smoothies. I really enjoyed their videos, and got a kick out of their narratives and English accents. I’ve included one of my favorite new smoothie recipes (below) and embedded their video as well! Enjoy!

Feel free to message me your favorite smoothie and juicing recipes for me to try, and then I’ll post with your credit! Thanks!

Living in the Los Angeles, California area and “The Bubble” of the entertainment business, food and diet is constantly on everyone’s lips. A controversial health issue that’s been up for debate for a long time is whether or not Vegetarianism is healthier than those who choose to keep meat in their diet. So, with this controversial health topic on my mind, I decided to do some research to see what both sides had to say about the issue.

I found a really informative website during my research, called ProCon.org that was very useful in finding great arguments from Pro Vegetarianism and Con Vegetarianism. On the list of Pro’s, they used the following facts concerning health, including the rumor that you couldn’t get enough iron as a Vegetarian: “The Vegetarian diet provides a more healthful form of iron than a meat-based diet. Studies have linked heme iron in red meat with an increased risk of colon and rectal cancer. Vegetarian sources of iron like leafy greens and beans contain non-heme iron.”

In rebuttal to that fact, however, the Con list from ProCon.org shared the following information: “Meat is the best source of vitamin B12 – a vitamin necessary to nervous and digestive system health. Although it is also found in eggs and dairy, a peer-reviewed July 2003 study showed 2 in 3 vegetarians were vitamin B12 deficient compared to 1 in 20 meat eaters.

While on the hunt for more articles that included scientific fact and research, I found some more great information on Vegetarian Times explaining that Vegetarians ward off disease because they’re filling up on high fiber and anti-oxidant rich fruits and veggies and aren’t consuming any animal fat. The article also explained that Vegetarianism could help with Weight Control, which directly affects our overall health. “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a division of the CDC, the National Center for Health Statistics, 64 percent of adults and 15 percent of children aged 6 to 19 are overweight and are at risk of weight-related ailments including heart disease, stroke and diabetes. A study conducted from 1986 to 1992 by Dean Ornish, MD, president and director of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California, found that overweight people who followed a low-fat, vegetarian diet lost an average of 24 pounds in the first year and kept off that weight 5 years later.”

USDA 2011 Food Pyramid

On the meat side of weight loss, however, the Con list from ProCon.org cited: “A meat-centered diet can help with weight loss. It takes fewer calories to get protein from lean meat than it does from vegetarian options. One serving of lean beef (3 oz.) contains as much protein as one serving of beans (1½ cups) or a veggie burger. However, the lean beef has half the calories of beans (180 vs. 374), and 50%-75% fewer calories than the veggie burger.”

As part of my research, I did find some disturbing information and videos of animal cruelty that goes on in some of our large animal farms. I found this short film produced by The Humane Society, and wanted to attach it because I feel it’s important to make our selves aware of how animals are treated on some of these farms. However, I also found a very nice video on free-range chickens, that I wanted to attach, that shows there are farms that treat their animals properly. (Videos Below)

Since there are legitimate facts and findings from both sides of the Vegetarianism argument, I found a really nice quote from ProCon.org to end the article with. “The right to eat what we want, including meat, is a fundamental liberty that we must defend. What people eat should be their own choice.“

When choosing to eat meat or not, perhaps we should all make the commitment to be more aware of what kind of meats and foods we’re choosing. May we all live long, healthy, and happy lives.